***Official*** New Zealand Domestic Season 2015/16

[Mixmasterreece]

On the interesting news front, Jeet Raval is going to be named today to tour Zimbabwe with the Blackcaps.

 

[Kippax]

Well if you want the guy who's built a rep for getting his abacus nicely stacked at a cricket circuit's easiest venues, Raval's a fine choice for them.

 

[RxGM]

Full side is here

BLACKCAPS Test squad for Africa

Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling.

 

[RxGM]

Interesting that Luke is still in side, indicates that he is going to keep his NZC contract.
Also three spinners
Cant remember the last time a NZ test squad had three specialist spinners.

 

[hendrix]

I love the Raval pick. Deserves his shot.

Luke Ronchi, Doug Bracewell and Mark Craig quite lucky but whatever. I would've preferred to blood another young pace bowler this tour.

 

[Athlai]

#fourhorsemanpic

 

[NZTailender]

I imagine Santner fulfills the all rounder spot given no Neesh or CJ, so I'd think of it as 2 specialist spinners rather than 3.

I hope we don't get too much of a headache for the openers spot. Imagine Guptill plays against Zimbabwe, fails in the first and is given the second to improve but also fails, so Raval debuts against South Africa in South Africa, not the greatest of prospects. or Guptill fills his boots against Zim and it turns out to be another false dawn.

 

[Bahnz]

I love the Raval pick. Deserves his shot.

Luke Ronchi, Doug Bracewell and Mark Craig quite lucky but whatever. I would've preferred to blood another young pace bowler this tour.

Yeah well, the only one worth even considering is Milne and his latest injury probably poured cold water on any thoughts of his inclusion. There's no way that Nuttall has yet done enough to suggest he should be giving Boult and Wagner a nudge. Don't know about Wheeler's fitness, but the same probably applies to him anyway. Kuggeleijn can't be selected for obvious reasons.

The big shock for me is Anderson's absence from the squad. While I have my reservations about him as a test player, he held his own reasonably well against Australia and certainly didn't deserve to be dropped. Don't see why Bracewell deserves a place ahead of him.

 

[Bahnz]

I imagine Santner fulfills the all rounder spot given no Neesh or CJ, so I'd think of it as 2 specialist spinners rather than 3.

I hope we don't get too much of a headache for the openers spot. Imagine Guptill plays against Zimbabwe, fails in the first and is given the second to improve but also fails, so Raval debuts against South Africa in South Africa, not the greatest of prospects. or Guptill fills his boots against Zim and it turns out to be another false dawn.

The later scenario far more likely. Guptill on flat tracks against sub-par bowlers usually means a runs splurge.

 

[morgieb]

Interesting to see you playing Tests against Zimbabwe as well as South Africa. Would be their first in about two years IIRC.

 

[Mike5181]

With how long they stick with players, it's annoying that Anderson is one that's left out (unless he's injured?). He did really well in his last test against Australia.

 

[straw man]

Oh hey we get cricket again. Anderson and Henry are conspicuous by their absence in that squad. Perhaps they figured Henry would be on the bench anyway and might as well stick with Worcs for the season, but as I understand it Anderson is straight dropped.

Ronchi and Bracewell are pretty meh, hopefully neither will play a match.

 

[Prince EWS]

Oh hey we get cricket again. Anderson and Henry are conspicuous by their absence in that squad. Perhaps they figured Henry would be on the bench anyway and might as well stick with Worcs for the season, but as I understand it Anderson is straight dropped.

Ronchi and Bracewell are pretty meh, hopefully neither will play a match.

Henry's in the squad.

 

[Kippax]

The big shock for me is Anderson's absence from the squad. While I have my reservations about him as a test player, he held his own reasonably well against Australia and certainly didn't deserve to be dropped. Don't see why Bracewell deserves a place ahead of him.

Well Santner's not in any sort of competition with Bracewell, that's I guess what it comes down to.

At some point, even someone as loyal and non-judgemental as Hesson can reluctantly point out 'the Santner', who will probably turn his lego blocks into bigger and better things with each passing year, as against 'the Anderson', who'd be just as happy running around outside playing bullrush. Corey's good weeks of bullrush results don't really seem to lead anywhere that I could plot on a graph heading in any sort of meaningfully upward trajectory. They're pretty much just random data points of good and bad bullrush results.

 

[SteveNZ]

I imagine Santner fulfills the all rounder spot given no Neesh or CJ, so I'd think of it as 2 specialist spinners rather than 3.

I hope we don't get too much of a headache for the openers spot. Imagine Guptill plays against Zimbabwe, fails in the first and is given the second to improve but also fails, so Raval debuts against South Africa in South Africa, not the greatest of prospects. or Guptill fills his boots against Zim and it turns out to be another false dawn.

Option B much more likely. I think it's good that Jeet gets exposed to the Test squad, he's a better player than Rutherford or anyone else is. He's still not anywhere ready to face up to international attacks, however. Over the next 24 months, either Gup finds something none of can see in him as a Test opener, or he's dropped and Jeet gets his run - hopefully having played a fair bit of A cricket and more meaningful opposition.

Interesting squad, wouldn't have the foggiest what the 1st Test XI will be and wouldn't want to guess for fear of being horribly wrong. Wagner needs to be in it, however.

 

[Blain]

Raval
Lath
Kane
Rossco
Gupy
Wats
Santa
Ish
Wags
Boult
Southee

I just can't see Nicholls as test quality yet. ODI squad player for sure, but even then he isn't 100% certainty IMO.

Ravs deserves his shot. Guptill to 5 cures 2 head aches for us, potentially. Takes over Baz's spot nicely.

If Henry isn't taking the new ball, Wagner has 3rd seamer role. Doug gives you a little more batting, but against Zim you shouldn't be picking bowlers because they can bat a bit..

 

[hendrix]

I'm sorry but in no way does Guptill get to claim the 5 spot after having failed so miserably as an opener. It's unfair. Hell, I'd rather they pick Colin Munro than Guptill at 5. Alternatively, Brownlie as South Africa specialist.

And yeah, I think Anderson being left out is a mistake.

 

[straw man]

Henry's in the squad.

that's it I'm crawling back into my cave until the tour actually starts

 

[Mike5181]

I imagine whoever is selected to open alongside Latham against Zimbabwe, will also get the two tests against South Africa. Otherwise it'd be a bit rash to throw a new guy in there against Steyn/Rabada/Philander.

Raval basically plays straight away, or I don't want to see him until the home series against Pakistan in November, which tbh might be a better time for him to make his debut.

 

[vandem]

Well Santner's not in any sort of competition with Bracewell, that's I guess what it comes down to.

At some point, even someone as loyal and non-judgemental as Hesson can reluctantly point out 'the Santner', who will probably turn his lego blocks into bigger and better things with each passing year, as against 'the Anderson', who'd be just as happy running around outside playing bullrush. Corey's good weeks of bullrush results don't really seem to lead anywhere that I could plot on a graph heading in any sort of meaningfully upward trajectory. They're pretty much just random data points of good and bad bullrush results.

Agree 100%

Looks like Santner is going to be the test #6 (or #7 swapping with Watling), the only spinner in a 4 seamer / 1 spinner attack, and 2nd spinner in a 3 seamer / 2 spinner attack. Which I also agree with. These are attacks more likely to take 20 wickets than 3 quicks + 2 all rounders (Santner + Anderson / Neesham).

So Anderson lost out to Nichols for the #5 spot. IMHO unfortunately for NZ test cricket over the next 2 seasons, Nichols did just enough in his (deserved) LO appearances that he's probably in the test team to the end of the home season, while Will Young (the better medium-long term test option) has to wait.

Anderson didn't get the spot as the spare batsman as they went for opener + Ronchi combination to cover, same as in recent tours. If one of the middle order is injured, either Guptill drops down and Raval opens, or Ronchi takes the gloves and Watling bats #4 / #5. Fine by me.

Nobody's mentioned Neesham, did just enough last FC season to be in the frame (496 runs @ 38) but not enough to consider him as a a test #5.